retro summer effect in post processing

Some could be described as high key (over-exposed slightly)
Some look suspiciously like colour effex pastel shades filter.
 
lower contrast,
some split toning
adjust saturation on the blue and red channels

but as with all things its about the light in the first place. All these are doing is enhancing whats already there. You can't create something that isn't there. So you need to look for the light for those shots in the first place
 
If you want to achieve effects like the images in your posted link on a fairly regular basis then I recommend you investing in onOne Software's Perfect Effects or even the whole Perfect Photo Suite 9. It has many presets and filters to choose from which you can then tweak to your heart's content. It's far easier to use than Photoshop for such actions.

http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/suite9/
 
No post-processing is going to get the same result if the starting point is too far adrift - shooting into the sun is a pretty key component to the original sample image. Get that and a large number of retro presets/actions will work.

The example you've tried to work is nothing like the inspiration image.. although the processing applied probably won't be far off if the light was right.
 
Lighting.... not processing.


As you've now discovered, you need the initial shot to be lit the way you need it before processing it.
 
Pookeyhead said:
Lighting.... not processing.


As you've now discovered, you need the initial shot to be lit the way you need it before processing it.
Click to expand...
Hopefully you realise that it's what David said here?
 
Thanks guys. I was hoping to touch some images up but as you have said easier to do when shooting then in pp.
 
Peter69 said:
Thanks guys. I was hoping to touch some images up but as you have said easier to do when shooting then in pp.
Click to expand...
It's not 'easier to do' it takes hours of genius processing to change the direction of light. And I really do mean hours, and I really do mean genius.

I always recommend photographers study photographs (and I do mean study), when you're looking at images to emulate, the first thing to work out is the type and direction of the light, then the composition, then the technical camera bits, then the PP. Many newer photographers think the PP is the key, many enthusiasts think it's about the camera / lens / settings. Despite people like David continually saying all that stuff is unimportant, many treat him like a relic from the past, if it wasn't so fundamentally wrong it'd be funny.

The truth is that the important stuff is the same as it always was, and PP is the least important ingredient.
 
Peter69 said:
Thanks @Phil V.
I tried again this one straight on the camera (but with a crop)
Morning by pbfield, on Flickr

Practice, practice, practice
Click to expand...
Much better.
Some vintage processing would get that close, but you'll find the colour of the sunlight varies with atmospherics and is warmer at other times of year.
 
As a relative novice I'd say that trying to get a photo how you want it by PP is very very difficult. I've tried, in the past, on numerous occasions and ended up with something that was, as some might say, "neither nowt nor summat".
 
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